Fake or Genuine Jazz Bass?

[Bruno Moura]

Hello,
My name is Bruno, Im brazillian and this is my first post, I'm sorry if I'm doing something wrong...
So, I want to know if this is a real old jazz bass or a fake one. I think the neck or the fretboard may have been changed, but the body looks so vintage, and the painting so beautiful too... maybe it could be an original body.. the fender logo on the headstock looks ok too..
the seller said he bought this bass in a garage sale in the USA. Theres no serial or any other mark in the neck pocket of the body or at the end of the heal of the neck...
The seller also said that he put a new truss rod and refinish the back of the neck.
I would appreciate it if you could help me
Sorry about my english and thanks a lot!!

 

[bassbully]

From those pics? Fake.

 

[ShiftyFlatwound]

I'm no expert, but that looks fake to me.

 

[BigAlBass69]

Did the seller say what year it was? Open up the control area and look at the dates on the potentiometers. If that is the original neck, taking off the neck should also demonstrate a year manufactured. The pickup does not match the rest of the bass.

 

[BigAlBass69]

Here is picture of a real 1966 Fender Jazz. Compare and decide if you cannot open up the baby

 

[king_biscuit]

Fake.

 

[bolophonic]

Blank neck plate = bad sign.

 

[Bruno Moura]

Did the seller say what year it was? Open up the control area and look at the dates on the potentiometers. If that is the original neck, taking off the neck should also demonstrate a year manufactured. The pickup does not match the rest of the bass.

He said 70s... I'll ask him to check the potentiometers. What is wrong with the pickups?? Thanks!

 

[Paulabass]

I'll go with fake. The heel is all wrong.

 

[BigAlBass69]

The magnets are too long

 

[6pack Jon]

The neck has 21 frets, something doesn’t add up.

 

[sedan_dad]

Truss rod adjustment should be at the other end of the neck on an older bass.

 

[FranF]

total fake

 

[AndyPanda]

Nothing about that looks real.

 

[Double E]

I will echo that this is an absolute fake.

 

[rashrader]

Run Away!!!

 

[jamro217]

Hello and welcome to TB. I think this is a fake because:
1.) The neck looks too wide at the nut. Fender Jazz Basses have a 1 1/2" nut width.
2.) The decal is wrong. Wrong color and font. No "Offset body" or patent decals.
3.) No dot position marker on the nineteenth fret.
4.) This bass has twenty one frets, not twenty.
5.) Either a bullet truss rod for a '70's model or a heel adjustment was standard. This has neither.
All of these could easily be explained by a replacement neck. Other reasons:
6.) Paint job unlike any normal Fender sunburst finish.
7.) Neck pickup looks to be a bridge pickup that was stuck there as a replacement (too big).
8.) Bridge cover intact. This isn't so much a problem as it is the possibility that it's hiding a problem. You can't see the bridge pickup or the bridge itself. Crooks sometimes put the covers on to hide obvious clues that a bass isn't original. It could be that the previous owner never took it off, or it was reattached prior to putting it up for sale to prove it's included. That is still a warning flag in my book.
9.) Blank neck plate. Fenders have either a serial number or an F. Again, replacement neck with the wrong plate? Stupid, but possible.
10.) Wrong string tensioner. Another non original part on a bass that's supposed to be a Fender.
11.) Replacement knobs. Not a biggie, but with so many other parts that are fake (not including what is hiding under the bridge cover and control plate), makes you wonder.
In conclusion, if this bass was a gift, enjoy it. If you love the way it plays and sounds, offer the seller $50. The only parts that look authentic are the pickguard and the bridge cover. Maybe the tuners ('70's Fenders tuners were made by Schaller and had Fender stamped on the back plate. Not positive about all '60's Fender tuners. This doesn't have the stamp and they look artificially aged.) and strap buttons. Like Nigel Tufnel, my list goes to 11. Hope this helps.


edit. Tuners are not OEM Fender. Thanks to Double E for pointing this out. Now the list is a dirty dozen. Ouch!

 

[lundborg]

I think the ashtray is probably genuine.

 

[soulman969]

It's a Jazz Bass shape but definitely not a Fender Jazz Bass.

 

[nilorius]

Well it could be genuine, just a little strange with no ser.nr. anywhere.